METHOD OF GENERATING 3D HAPTIC FEEDBACK AND AN ASSOCIATED HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE
The present invention is directed to a method of generating three dimensional (3D) haptic feedback and an associated handheld electronic device. A first, a second and a third directional actuator groups are disposed on an inner surface of a housing. The vibration inertial forces generated by the first, the second, and the third directional actuator groups are parallel with the first, the second and the third axial directions respectively. The first, the second, and the third directional actuator groups are individually or in combination driven, thereby generating haptic feedback.
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The entire contents of Taiwan Patent Application No. 100138439, filed on Oct. 24, 2011, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an actuator, and more particularly to a method of generating three-dimensional haptic feedback and an associated handheld electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
An actuator is an energy conversion device that, for example, converts electrical energy to mechanical energy, and the converted mechanical energy then further generates acoustic waves or haptic feedback. The actuator is commonly implemented by a smart material, such as piezoelectric material, electroactive polymer (EAP), shape memory alloy (SMA), magnetostrictive material or electrostrictive material.
The actuator of a conventional haptic feedback device is usually disposed on a bottom surface of a screen. When the actuator is driven, it converts electrical energy to mechanical energy, and the converted mechanical energy then acts on the screen to result in vibration, which further generates haptic feedback. However, the conventional haptic feedback device generates only unidirectional vibration perpendicular to the screen. Therefore, application prospect of the haptic feedback device cannot be substantively expanded.
Therefore, a need has arisen to propose a novel method of generating three-dimensional haptic feedback and an associated handheld electronic device to improve the disadvantages mentioned above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn view of the drawbacks and limitations of the conventional haptic feedback device, the embodiment of the present invention provides a method of generating three-dimensional haptic feedback and an associated handheld electronic device for generating haptic feedback in three axial directions, therefore enhancing interaction between the electronic device and a user, in contrast to the unidirectional haptic feedback of the conventional electronic device.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, three-dimensional haptic feedback handheld electronic device includes a housing, a first-directional actuator group, a second-directional actuator group and a third-directional actuator group. The first-directional actuator group is disposed on an inner surface of the housing, wherein, the first-directional actuator group generates vibration inertial force that is parallel to a first axial direction. The second-directional actuator group is disposed on the inner surface of the housing, wherein the second-directional actuator group generates vibration inertial force that is parallel to a second axial direction and perpendicular to the first axial direction. The third-directional actuator group is disposed on the inner surface of the housing, wherein the third-directional actuator group generates vibration inertial force that is parallel to a third axial direction and perpendicular to a plane defined by the first axial direction and the second axial direction.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the first-directional actuator group, at least a portion of the second-directional actuator group and at least a portion of the third-directional actuator group are individually or in combination driven to generate haptic feedback.
The actuator groups 15/16/17 are driven to generate vibration inertial forces associated with corresponding axial directions, respectively.
As described above, the first-directional actuator group 15, the second-directional actuator group 16 and the third-directional actuator group 17 may be, individually or in combination, driven to generate various types of haptic feedback, which will be detailed in the following. For better understanding, the first axial direction is exemplified by the direction X (31), the second axial direction is exemplified by the direction Y (32), and the third axial direction, is exemplified by the direction Z (33).
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The types of haptic feedback discussed above are generated by individually driving only the first-directional actuator group 15, the second-directional actuator group 16, or the third-directional actuator group 17. In the following, two or more of the first-directional actuator group 15, the second-directional actuator group 16, and the third-directional actuator group 17 are driven in combination to generate various types of haptic feedback.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The types of haptic feedback discussed above are generated by individually driving only the first-directional actuator group 15, the second-directional actuator group 16, or the third-directional actuator group 17, or by driving two of the first-directional actuator group 15, the second-directional actuator group 16, and the third-directional actuator group 17. However, all of the first-directional actuator group 15, the second-directional actuator group 16, and the third-directional actuator group 17 may be driven in combination, to generate various types of haptic feedback. Generally speaking, as shown in
According to the various types of haptic feedback discussed above, the embodiment may be adapted to generate haptic feedback in three axial directions, therefore enhancing interaction between the electronic device and a user, in contrast to the unidirectional haptic feedback of the conventional electronic device.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A three-dimensional haptic feedback handheld electronic device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a first-directional actuator group, disposed on an inner surface of the housing, wherein the first-directional actuator group generates vibration inertial force that is parallel to a first axial direction;
- a second-directional actuator group, disposed on the inner surface of the housing, wherein the second-directional actuator group generates vibration inertial force that is parallel to a second axial direction and perpendicular to the first axial direction; and
- a third-directional actuator group, disposed on the inner surface of the housing, wherein the third-directional actuator group generates vibration inertial force that is parallel to a third axial direction and perpendicular to a plane defined by the first axial direction and the second axial direction.
2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a chassis frame and a chassis, wherein a surface of the chassis frame is perpendicular to a surface of the chassis.
3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first-directional actuator group, the second-directional actuator group, or the third-directional actuator group comprises at least one actuator.
4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein, the actuator comprises piezoelectric material, electroactive polymer (EAP), shape memory alloy (SMA), magnetostrictive material, a voice coil motor, or a linear resonant actuator (LRA).
5. The electronic device of claim 3, further comprising a support member having one end attached to the actuator, and another end attached to the inner surface of thee housing.
6. The electronic device of claim 3, further comprising an inertial mass attached to at least one surface of the actuator.
7. A method of generating three-dimensional haptic feedback, comprising:
- providing a first-directional actuator group, a second-directional actuator group, and a third-directional actuator group, wherein the first-directional actuator group generates vibration inertial force that is parallel to a first axial direction, the second-directional actuator group generates vibration inertial force that is parallel to a second axial direction and perpendicular to the first axial direction, and the third-directional actuator group generates vibration inertial force that is parallel to a third axial direction and perpendicular to a plane defined, by the first axial direction and the second axial direction; and
- individually or in combination driving at least a portion of the first-directional actuator group, at least a portion of the second-directional actuator group and at least a portion of the third-directional actuator group to generate haptic feedback.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first-directional actuator group, the second-directional actuator group, or the third-directional actuator group comprises at least one actuator.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the actuator comprises piezoelectric material, electroactive polymer (EAP), shape memory alloy (SMA), magnetostrictive material, a voice coil motor or a linear resonant actuator (LRA).
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the driving step comprises:
- driving the first-directional actuator group, the second-directional actuator group, or the third-directional actuator group to generate a plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces with substantially a same direction, wherein the plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces collectively form a resultant force.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the driving step comprises:
- driving a portion of the first-directional actuator group to generate at least one unidirectional first vibration inertial force directing to a first direction; and
- driving another portion of the first-directional actuator group to generate at least one unidirectional second vibration inertial force directing to a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
- wherein the first vibration inertial force and the second vibration inertial force collectively form a resultant moment, rotating around the third axial direction.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein the driving step comprises:
- driving a portion of the second-directional actuator group to generate at least one unidirectional first vibration inertial force directing to a first direction; and
- driving another portion of the second-directional actuator group to generate at least one unidirectional second vibration inertial force directing to a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
- wherein the first vibration inertial force and the second vibration inertial force collectively form a resultant moment, rotating around the third axial direction.
13. The method of claim 7, wherein the driving step comprises:
- driving a portion of the third-directional actuator group to generate at least one unidirectional first vibration inertial force directing to a first direction; and
- driving another portion of the third-directional actuator group to generate at least one unidirectional second vibration inertial force directing to a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
- wherein the first vibration inertial force and the second vibration inertial force collectively form a resultant moment, rotating around the first or the second axial direction.
14. The method of claim 7, wherein the driving step comprises:
- driving the first-directional actuator group to generate a plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces with substantially a same direction; and
- driving the second-directional actuator group to generate a plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces with substantially a same direction;
- wherein the plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces generated by the first-directional actuator group and the plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces generated by the second-directional actuator group collectively form a resultant force, pointing to a direction between the first axial direction and the second axial direction.
15. The method of claim 7, wherein the driving step comprises:
- driving a portion of the first-directional actuator group to generate at least one unidirectional first vibration inertial force directing to a first direction;
- driving another portion of the first-directional actuator group to generate at least one unidirectional second vibration inertial force directing to a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
- driving a portion of the second-directional actuator group to generate at least one unidirectional third vibration inertial force directing to a third direction; and
- driving another portion of the second-directional actuator group to generate at least one unidirectional fourth vibration inertial force directing to a fourth direction that is opposite to the third direction;
- wherein the first vibration inertial force and the second vibration inertial force collectively form a sub-resultant moment rotating around the third axial direction, and the third vibration inertial force and the fourth vibration inertial force collectively form a sub-resultant moment rotating around the third axial direction.
16. The method of claim 7, wherein the driving step comprises:
- driving the first-directional actuator group to generate a plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces with substantially a same direction; and
- driving the third-directional actuator group to generate a plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces with substantially a same direction;
- wherein the plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces generated by the first-directional actuator group and the plurality of unidirectional vibration, inertial forces generated by the third-directional actuator group collectively form a resultant force, pointing to a direction between the first axial direction and the third axial direction.
17. The method of claim 7, wherein the driving step comprises:
- driving the second-directional actuator group to generate a plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces with substantially a same direction; and
- driving the third-directional actuator group to generate a plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces with substantially a same direction;
- wherein the plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces generated by the second-directional actuator group and the plurality of unidirectional vibration inertial forces generated by the third-directional actuator group collectively form a resultant force, pointing to a direction between the second axial direction and the third axial direction.
18. The method of claim 8, wherein the driving step further comprises:
- providing a driving signal with a waveform having positive and negative values, for driving the actuator to result in bidirectional alternating vibration inertial force.
19. The method of claim 8, wherein the driving step further comprises:
- providing a driving signal with a waveform having only positive values with a sharp rising edge, for driving the actuator to result in unidirectional vibration inertial force.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 30, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 25, 2013
Applicant: CHIEF LAND ELECTRONIC CO., LTD. (NEW TAIPEI CITY)
Inventors: Chia-Nan Ching (Taoyuan County), Tsi-Yu Chuang (Changhua County), Wen Chung Wang (New Taipei City)
Application Number: 13/307,699
International Classification: H04B 3/36 (20060101);